plate no. 5620

Marinha

Antonio Carneiro, 1916

oilExpressionismlandscapebeachseaskycloudsfiguresdunes

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to simplify complex scenes into basic shapes and values. It also provides practice in blending colors to create subtle gradations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the horizon line and the basic shapes of the dunes and clouds.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color for the sky, sea, and beach.
step 03
Mix a range of values for the sky, focusing on the subtle gradations of color in the clouds.
step 04
Develop the dunes with darker values in the foreground and lighter values in the distance to create depth.
step 05
Add the distant coastline and figures with simplified shapes and muted colors.
step 06
Refine the brushwork to suggest texture and movement in the clouds and sand.
step 07
Add final details, such as highlights on the waves and subtle variations in the sand.
step 08
Evaluate the overall balance of the painting and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue with varying amounts of white to create the range of browns and grays needed for the beach, dunes, and sky. Add yellow ochre to warm up the browns and raw umber to darken them.

techniques

·wet-on-wet blending
·scumbling
·atmospheric perspective
·simplified shapes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall impressionistic feel.
→Creating too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
→Failing to establish a clear sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can make the painting look unnatural.